WGA honors ‘Bicycle’ writer

D'Amico first recipient of Jean Renoir Award

The Writers Guild of America West has tapped Italian screenwriter Suso D’Amico as the first recipient of its Jean Renoir Award for Screenwriting Achievement.

D’Amico’s written more than 100 films, including “The Bicycle Thief,” “Rocco and His Brothers” and “Big Deal on Madonna Street.” She was nominated for an Academy Award in 1966 for her screenplay for “Casanova ’70.”

The 93-year-old D’Amico will be honored at the WGA Awards ceremonies Feb. 7 at the Century Plaza but won’t travel to Los Angeles. She will receive the kudo next month at a ceremony in Rome sponsored by Medusa Film.

The WGA West said the Renoir trophy will be given occasionally to honor screenwriters working outside the U.S. and in other languages.

“We felt that Ms. D’Amico deserved this honor for ‘The Bicycle Thief’ alone,” said WGA West board member Nicholas Kazan, who served on the committee that established the award. “In light of her astonishing list of credits, our only regret is that we can’t give it to her twice.”